Suva’s renowned Ratu Sukuna Park is scheduled to open its doors by the end of this month.
During a parliamentary update, Local Government Minister Maciu Nalumisa discussed the long-anticipated project, emphasizing its goals of enhancing the landscape, providing an improved venue for events, increasing visitor traffic, upgrading lighting, and introducing modern park furniture for enhanced seating. He also mentioned plans to make the park smarter by incorporating digital features, such as charging ports and Wi-Fi access.
Nalumisa highlighted that while modernizing the park’s functionality and aesthetics, the project would also respect its historical and cultural importance. He noted that the initiative is entirely self-funded by the Suva City Council (SCC), which allocated an initial budget of $13 million.
In 2020, the project’s scope shifted to a complete redevelopment of the park, which originally included plans for a two-level cafeteria based on a previous administration’s concept. However, the budget was subsequently reduced to $7 million after the SCC’s special administrators decided to eliminate the cafeteria, dedicating only $500,000 for landscaping.
The park was closed by the SCC at the end of 2021 to facilitate demolition and rehabilitation work. Nalumisa mentioned that a consultant responsible for the initial master plan was engaged by the SCC; however, a new consultant was brought on board in early 2023.
“The construction of the podium commenced in June 2023 following the engagement of a new consultancy team,” Nalumisa stated, adding that civil works proceeded after the SCC’s tender and evaluation process.
He further noted that the revised rehabilitation master plan aims to create a modern, smart park for Suva City, including provisions for disabled facilities to ensure inclusivity in urban development.